(CNN) – When President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were in flight on separate airplanes Tuesday night, House Speaker John Boehner was the highest-ranking elected official on American soil for about half an hour.

Should something have gone terribly wrong in that short span of time, Boehner, who's behind only the vice president in the presidential line of succession, could have potentially become president.Follow @politicalticker

But the House speaker brushed off the hypothetical talk during in an interview with CNN Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper on "The Lead."

"That's why I say prayers for President Obama and Vice President Biden every day," he continued.

"You don't want to be the president?" Tapper asked.

"I don't want to be president. This is not anything I've ever thought about," Boehner responded.

Tapper then asked if Boehner did anything in those 20 minutes when the officials were in the air. Like, require everyone to listen to polka, for example.

soundoff(38 Responses)

He'd grab a bottle of wine and a pack of cigarettes and hide in Cheney's bunker, Probably pee his pants too – LOL.

March 20, 2013 07:22 pm at 7:22 pm |

Logic N LA

Sounds to me, like a Boehner presidency would be much like his spreakership. Nothing would get done.

March 20, 2013 08:12 pm at 8:12 pm |

cbp

Just another example of the silly questions that the press asks. This is not the first silly question and it will not be the last. If Speaker Boehner was at all interested in becoming President of the USA then he would have run for the office. Right now he is Speaker of the HOuse and he really needs to focus on that job. He needs to come out from the shadows and allow himself to be his own man. He can leave Sen. McConnell behind. He has the opportunity to work with the President and to help to bring us back to a nation where compromise, concern, and common sense reign supreme. No one group has all the answers and we will only move ahead if we work together.

March 20, 2013 09:17 pm at 9:17 pm |

Ancient Texan

All of the commenters here that are hung up on the assumption that Boehner is a drunk are undoubtedly tee-totalers. Right? No vices? ....

March 20, 2013 09:21 pm at 9:21 pm |

JM

He wouldn't do anything, just like he's doing now.

March 20, 2013 10:44 pm at 10:44 pm |

boungiorno

you guys need to get a life your old news

March 20, 2013 10:55 pm at 10:55 pm |

ThinkAgain

Boehner should immediately give up the Speakership because one of his responsibilities is to assume the presidency should (God forbid!) the President and VP become incapacitated.

What an absolute wuss that Boehner is!

March 20, 2013 11:22 pm at 11:22 pm |

ThinkAgain

What is it about democracy that Boehner and the GOP don't get?

Democrats won the Presidency, Senate and House in 2008; in 2012, they retained the Presidency and Senate and won the popular vote in the House.

And yet, here are Boehner and his boneheaded GOPers and baggers continually obstructing everything President Obama is trying to do to help our country (and succeeding in spite of all their efforts – can you say private sector job growth EVERY MONTH since May 2010?). Boehner and the Boneheads actively thwarting the will of the people.

Every single day, Boehner and the Boneheads commit treason in my opinion. Every single day ...

March 20, 2013 11:25 pm at 11:25 pm |

AZ Woman

**whew** we missed a potential tragedy there...

March 21, 2013 12:16 am at 12:16 am |

aztekman

This is a problem with this country, this is what MSM has been shoving down people's throats as "news". what a waste of time.

March 21, 2013 01:35 am at 1:35 am |

Paul

Well that would be a hood, he would be the cry baby in the room when things would not go his way, would do it good internationally. Merkel would have him standing in the corner until he can behave and stop crying.

March 21, 2013 03:00 am at 3:00 am |

Non factor

Good Lord. What a horrible thought.
Speaker Boehner the dummy in charge! Beside crying a river he would wet his pants every day for a month.

March 21, 2013 04:19 am at 4:19 am |

julie

he'd stay drunk and cry a lot b/c the democrated controlled senate/house keeps filibustering his plans and no one will work with him, and he is all alone crying.............